Homemade French Fries

This recipe for homemade French fries will keep you coming back for more. Homemade fries are world’s apart from the frozen food aisle at your local grocery store.

Baked in the oven to a crispy, yet tender goodness, it’s easy to see why fries are so popular. You can easily make your own oven baked fries with a little planning, since soaking fresh potatoes is a critical part of producing the best homemade French fries.

Homemade French fries should be on your side dish menu for game day parties, family get-togethers as well as holiday celebrations. You can’t go wrong with a platter of these fresh-from-the-oven baked fries.

Bags of Ore-ida could be found in our freezer when I was a kid. We didn’t always use frozen fries, though. My mom is the best cook I know, and she often made homemade fries, usually with a bit of seasoning on them.

You will love these homemade fries because they

• call for only three ingredients
• are baked rather than fried
• can be made in large batches to serve a crowd

So, the next time you are craving fries, consider making your own homemade fries in the oven. Or, try my similar home fries recipe.

Ingredients

Making your own fries comes with the added benefit of allowing you to choose the ingredients and preparation method.

In this recipe, olive oil is used instead of vegetable oils or peanut oil. Beef tallow, lard or duck fat make decadent alternatives, if you’re craving a richer flavor.

Also, the preparation method is baking rather than frying, making these fries a healthier alternative to their fried counterpart.

Here are the ingredients you will need:

• Potatoes, 2 pounds Russet or Yukon Gold, soaked - In order to get crispy fries that are baked in the oven, as opposed to fried, it is crucial to soak the potatoes for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours in the refrigerator. Soaking fresh potatoes reduces the amount of starch present, which, in turn, enables the potatoes to become crispy during the cooking process. The longer you can soak the potatoes, the better.
• Olive oil, ¼ cup - A little olive oil helps produce crispy, yet tender, fries—the perfect combination. You could also use organic grass fed ghee (clarified butter) or rendered fats, such as organic grass fed beef tallow, duck fat or lard, if you prefer, though you will want to adjust the quantity to your liking.
• Salt, to taste - It’s up to you how much salt you want to use. I usually sprinkle on somewhere between ½-1 teaspoon.
• Pepper (optional) - While I did not use any pepper on our fries, salt and pepper is fairly common on fries. This ingredient is optional.

Variations and Substitutions:

• Use a little parsley to spice up the flavor profile.
• Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top for a richer mouthfeel.
• Give your fries a smokey flavor by topping with paprika.
• Bring out the garlic powder to lend a complexity to the fries.
• Add Lawry’s Seasoned Salt for a savory kick.

Equipment

You don’t necessarily need any specialty cooking equipment to make this homemade French fries recipe. 

That said, there are a few kitchen supplies that can make the process of cutting the potatoes into fries ten times easier, which I detail below.

• Knife or French fry cutter - I’m not the best with knives. Nor do I enjoy cutting large quantities of potatoes into ¼ inch sticks to make these fries. If that works for you, have at it. If not, I  highly recommend that you try this handy French fry cutter. Read the instructions, as it contains directions, such as how to cut medium to large potatoes, as well as other helpful tips.

• Large mixing bowl - Soak cut potatoes in a large bowl for 2-24 hours in the refrigerator. Again, the longer they soak, the better. Stainless steel mixing bowls (these are made in India) work well for this purpose. Otherwise, white earthenware mixing bowls made in Portugal or glass mixing bowls made in the UAE or these glass mixing bowls made in France and the USA should also work well for soaking.
• Roasting pan - A large white porcelain roasting pan is what I used to bake our fries. You could use a sheet pan, but you will have to change the cook time, as I expect the fries will cook much faster on a baking sheet pan.
• Serving platter - Want to make your oven baked french fries look even more delicious? Transfer crispy baked fries onto a gorgeous white porcelain serving platter. Never has a side dish looked so enticing.
• Condiment dish - Add ketchup or other condiments to a small ramekin or sauce dish to elevate your serving style.

Instructions

1. Cut potatoes lengthwise into approximately ¼ inch sticks. You can peel the potatoes or leave them on, it’s up to your preference. To make the whole cutting process easier, use a French fry cutter.

2. Soak cut potatoes in a large bowl in the refrigerator for 2-24 hours. The longer, the better.

3. Remove potatoes from the refrigerator, drain the water and pat dry with a towel. Arrange the potatoes in a single layer in the pan. Sprinkle with oil and salt. Stir well or shake to coat.

4. Bake at 425 for 50-55 minutes. Stir at 20 minutes and 40 minutes. If at 50 minutes the fries are still not as crispy as you want, stir and continue baking in 5-minute intervals. Keep a close eye on the oven to ensure the fries don’t burn.

5. Allow to cool for 5 minutes or so. Serve on a platter or individual plates with condiments.

Serving Suggestions

Often served as a side to hamburgers, chicken sandwiches and gyros, serving up a batch of homemade French fries will be an instant crowd pleaser. Don’t diminish tasty, crispy fries to just a side dish, when you can serve fries for practically any occasion. Follow fries with a sweet treat, such as the best chocolate chip brownies.

Consider the following ways to serve fries:

• Appetizer - Serve baked French fries before the main course, as a delectable appetizer. Use small ramekins to keep portions in check. Fries make wonderful appetizers when there is ample time between courses, such as dinner parties or game day celebrations.
• Snack - Not everyone agrees, but homemade fries as a snack is okay in moderation. Again, utilize portion control tactics by serving fries in small individual dishes.
• Side Dish - With a juicy hamburger, fluffy chicken sandwich or lamb filled gyro, these oven baked homemade fries may be the star of the meal. No condiments are off limits, so go crazy with ranch dressing, seasoned salt or traditional ketchup.

How to Store Leftover Homemade French Fries

Store leftover French fries in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a few days. You can also freeze cooked homemade fries in a freezer safe storage container for a couple months.

To reheat leftovers, place in a single layer on a baking pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes, stirring halfway through. If you want crispier potatoes, continue baking in 5 minute intervals, checking to make sure they don't burn.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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